A PECULIAR CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 603, 30 November 1909, Page 2

A PECULIAR CASE.

Peculiar developments occurred in a case at the Wellington Supreme Court last week, when, two prisoners, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, appeared for sentence.

Mr iskerrett, K.C., on behalf of the prisoners, said he had grave reason to think that from the depositions put in accused had inadvertently pleaded guilty. Accused were arrested at Raetihi for shooting two cattle belonging to a man named Chapman, which they alleged were wild bush cattle, which run in the bush in the,outskirts of the districts. They were tried before three Justices of the Peace two days later, and were not represented by counsel, being unable to obtain anyone. In their affidavits, accused state that they pleaded guilty to shooting wild cattle, which the chairman of the Bench said amounted to a plea of not guilty, and advised them to plead guilty, and they would be dealt with more leniently. Judge Chapman said the matter was very important, for if the facts were as stated, the Justices and police had mistaken their duty, and it might be an occasion for him to £ make representations to the Government to have a legislative change in the Act giving power to Judges, when prisoners plead guilty, to order, if necessary, a further trial for investigation. The evidence of the Justices and the police at Raetihi will be taken ia Wellington next Wednesday.